Chapter 19: This is a Pokémon Master's Promise
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
Ash slowly recalled his Metapod, which was Unable to Battle, and spoke softly to the Poké Ball to comfort it:
"Thank you, Metapod. You've taken another step toward your Evolution into the legendary Rayquaza."
He then raised his head, his gaze turning solemn as he looked at Starmie.
This was a powerful opponent.
With Pikachu slacking off, he could only send out a Pokemon with enough Speed to have a chance of not being directly knocked out by the opponent's powerful Hydro Pump.
Thinking this, Ash suddenly realized something.
*I only have one left, why am I agonizing over this in The Void?!*
And so, Ash forcefully threw a Poké Ball, shouting:
"I choose you, Utility Bird!"
Pidgeotto appeared from the red light, just about to spread its wings and cry out loudly.
"Pidgeo...otto?"
It suddenly snapped its head around 120 degrees like a Rowlet, staring at its Trainer with a dumbfounded expression.
*What did he just call me?*
*That didn't sound like a very polite name.*
Ash's heart skipped a beat, and he clamped a hand over his mouth.
How could he have accidentally said his inner thoughts out loud? He could only lie through his teeth:
"You misheard me. I said, 'the mighty Pidgeotto'!"
"Pokedex Beep. Data updated."
Just then, the Pokedex in his pocket suddenly activated on its own, interrupting Ash's explanation.
The voice was somewhat cold and piercing.
"Pidgeotto. Nickname: Utility Bird."
The boy and the bird: "..."
The scene descended into an awkward silence.
*BOOM!*
A thick pillar of blue water suddenly shot toward them, putting a stop to the potential Pokémon-murders-Trainer incident that was about to unfold.
Pidgeotto relied on the natural sharp eyes of a bird Pokémon to narrowly avoid the powerful Hydro Pump.
"Darn it!"
The failed sneak attack made Misty cry out in disappointment, but it made Ash, who was standing to the side, breathe a quiet sigh of relief.
No matter how intense an internal conflict becomes, the appearance of a common external enemy is all it takes to make even sworn enemies cease their squabbles and unite against the foe.
This formidable Starmie was clearly such an existence.
So, Ash quickly offered another dose of reassurance.
"Pidgeotto, I'll help you change your Nickname after the Battle! Trust me, this is a Promise from a Pokémon Master!"
*Anyway, he's the future one, not the present one.*
Hearing this, Pidgeotto nodded, reluctantly accepting the proposal.
The Battle begins!
"Starmie, use Water Gun!"
Misty launched another attack.
After all, against Pidgeotto's Speed, Hydro Pump's garbage accuracy meant that no matter how great its Power was, it was meaningless if it couldn't hit.
Besides, Hydro Pump was an Ultimate Move; its Energy consumption wasn't low.
But as long as Water Gun could hit Pidgeotto and soak its wing Feathers, its Speed would be greatly reduced, turning it into a Living Target for Hydro Pump.
*Swish!*
*Swish!*
Starmie frantically shot out Water Gun after Water Gun, but Pidgeotto dodged every single one with nimble maneuvers, not a single drop of water touching its Feathers.
"Pidgeotto!"
Pidgeotto had, at some point, darted directly in front of Starmie, the two of them now less than two meters apart.
"Starmie, use Water..."
Misty's words weren't even finished when Ash cut in first:
"Pidgeotto, use Gust!"
Pidgeotto flapped its wings, and the storm whipped up at point-blank range sent Starmie flying backward before it could even unleash its Move.
Seeing this, Misty was suddenly struck with an idea and commanded, "Starmie, use Rapid Spin against the wall!"
Starmie recovered from its Stunned State in Mid-air. Its body spun wildly, using the reactive force from the wall to ricochet toward Pidgeotto.
*WHOOSH!*
Pidgeotto took a direct hit and hurriedly flapped away to the side to readjust its flight.
Misty, pressing her advantage, shouted, "Starmie, keep using Rapid Spin!"
Starmie charged straight for a side wall, using the reactive force to rebound toward Pidgeotto again.
Ash didn't dare to be careless. "Pidgeotto, fly higher!"
"Pidgeotto!"
Pidgeotto frantically flapped its wings, gaining altitude and narrowly avoiding the Rapid Spin.
However, Starmie took advantage of the surrounding terrain, continuously rebounding with Rapid Spin, gaining height with each bounce, and constantly closing in on its target.
The Situation immediately grew tense, and Pidgeotto started to panic.
But after a few exchanges, Ash discovered a Key Point.
His eyes locked onto Starmie's trajectory, and just as it reached the apex of its parabolic arc, he suddenly yelled:
"Now, use Wing Attack!"
Pidgeotto shot upward, grazing past the Rapid Spin. One of its wings was already covered in a layer of White Light, and it swung it down forcefully.
As Starmie spun horizontally, the gem in its center was completely defenseless and was struck dead-on.
*SMACK!*
*Take that, you Psychic Water Type!*
Under the force of the Wing Attack, Starmie plummeted straight down from the sky. Since its gem had been struck, it was instantly in a Flickering State.
Misty couldn't help but be secretly amazed. She never expected Ash to be an old-school geometer.
"Starmie, take this chance to dive into the water!"
Using the backward momentum, Starmie dove directly into the Pool, vanishing from sight.
"Use Water Gun while moving!"
This was the Cerulean Gym; firing Water Gun from within the water was its home-field advantage!
"Damn, it's this troublesome..."
The Situation once again became Starmie hiding underwater, constantly leaping out to fire Water Gun.
It fired one shot without getting greedy, then submerged again, moving to a new position to fire once more.
Even a veteran would have trouble with such chaotic potshots. Pidgeotto, worn out from dodging, was about to get a faceful when Ash suddenly flipped his Hat backward and yelled:
"Pidgeotto, use Wing Attack on the surface of the water!"
Hearing this, Pidgeotto's body trembled, its raptor's Fighting Spirit soaring to new heights.
It flapped its wings and charged to half a meter above the water's surface, its wings gathering White Light before slamming down heavily.
*KABOOM!!*
The terrifying force made the Pool, and seemingly the entire Cerulean Gym, tremble violently.
The water rippled outward, and Starmie, hidden on one side of the Pool, couldn't withstand the vibration and was abruptly jolted out of the water.
Ash's eyes lit up, and he roared:
"The final blow! Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack!"
Seeing this, Misty's eyes grew even brighter than his.
Although she didn't know Ash would force it out with such a near-brute-force method, knowing his finishing Move would be Quick Attack was enough.
She waved her hand forward. "Starmie, use Hydro Pump straight ahead!!"
Waiting for the opponent to approach before attacking—this was a Move she had copied from the previous match's Metapod.
*BOOOOM!!!*
A thick blue pillar of water launched forward, carving a vacuum through the Pool's surface as it rushed toward the incoming Pidgeotto with immense force.
There was no way Pidgeotto could block this Move!
"This match is mine!"
Misty smiled triumphantly.
Even Brock, watching from the sidelines, shook his head and narrowed his eyes.
A Hydro Pump couldn't be blocked by a Quick Attack. Not even Ash could pull that off.
"Pidgeotto!"
A sudden cry startled everyone. They saw the powerful Hydro Pump successfully hit Pidgeotto, yet there was no trace of impact, as if it had passed right through.
"What's going on!?"
Misty's face turned pale with shock.
By the time she came to her senses, she realized Pidgeotto had somehow appeared directly beneath the pillar of water. It was still charging, hugging the edge of the blast, its beak glinting with an unnerving White Light.
What the Hydro Pump had pierced was merely an Afterimage.
It had already reached Starmie, closing the distance to less than a meter.
*SWOOSH-BAM!!*
Quick Attack hits!
The powerful Attack was too much for Starmie to bear. Its body was sent flying backward, trailing a long splash of water.
And when the splash fell back to the surface, it was already completely Unable to Battle.
"Starmie is Unable to Battle! Pidgeotto is the winner!"
"The winner of this Battle is the Participant, Ash!"
Misty's eldest sister shouted, her voice ringing out as if she herself had won.
Afterwards.
Ash was stunned for a good few seconds. To be honest, he hadn't expected Misty to have such a dirty trick up her sleeve.
As for how Pidgeotto dodged the Hydro Pump at the end, he didn't know either.
But being the simple-minded person he was, he knew that as long as he won, everything was fine.
Thinking this, he leaped from the Participant's box, bounded across several of the Pool's Floating Platforms, and gave Pidgeotto an affectionate hug.
"Pidgeotto!"
Pidgeotto was also very happy, flapping its wings and patting Ash on the head as if to remind him of something.
"I get it, I get it! Brock is already arranging for the high-grade Rations. We'll go to the Pokémon Center later and I'll let you eat your fill!"
Ash recalled it into its Poké Ball with a joyful expression.
Pidgeotto: 0-0?
Bathed in the red light of the Poké Ball, Pidgeotto's face looked somewhat stupefied.
*My foolish Trainer, have you forgotten something?*
*Swoosh.*
The next moment, it entered the Poké Ball without another word.